Jacob Kerby

I teach General Biology I each Fall semester and either Disease Ecology or Environmental Toxicology and Contaminants each spring semester. Details on these courses can be found on my website.

Research Interests:

My current research integrates many fields of study to investigate the causes of amphibian declines worldwide. Amphibians represent an ideal model organism to investigate the disparate effects of global change because they are found worldwide and are susceptible to several of the leading contributors to global change: habitat modification, climate change, invasive species, disease and contaminants. My research has focused primarily on understanding the impacts of multiple stressors, both biotic (predators and pathogens) and abiotic (pollutants and habitat alterations), on aquatic communities. I believe this research has benefits to advance not only the theory of the relevant fields but also the conservation of the species involved. Therefore my goal is to not only observe the negative impacts stressors have on organisms within a community, but also to learn about the changes in community dynamics that result.

Assessment of amphibian populations at Bow Creek wetlands in the Missouri National Recreation River, National Park Service,
(2013 - 2015)

Assessment of Forest Songbird, Marsh Bird and Frog Community Composition along the Missouri National Recreational River using Auditory and Visual Census Techniques, National Park Service,
(2010 - 2010)

Estimating the effects of herbicide application to habitat of the Hine’s emerald dragonfly (Somatochlora hineana)., US Fish and Wildlife Service,
(2010 - 2013)